World leaders slam war on drugs as 'a disaster'

The decades-long war on drugs has failed and the world's lawmakers need to consider decriminalization, influential world leaders including ex-United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and the President of Colombia have said.

"It has been a disaster and has inflicted enormous harm," Annan, who is currently chair of The Elders, a group of world leaders, told the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"Drug use is not down. It's time for a different approach. Drugs have destroyed many people, and the wrong government and policies have destroyed many people."

After a number of countries and U.S. states such as Colorado softened their attitude towards illegal drugs, the issue has moved further to the front of the global agenda. Illegal drugs have become cheaper and purer in recent years, as drug cartels get more efficient, according to a study by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy late last year.

There is a difference between full legalization and decriminalization, where substances are still subject to some restrictions of use.

Rick Perry, the governor of Texas who made an abortive run for the Republican Presidential nomination, argued against decriminalization.

"It's bad public policy for government to say: 'Here's one more substance that's not good for you that's legal," he said.

Discussing health-care reform, innovation and America's energy future from Davos, Switzerland, with Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas. For the world to continue to grow, Saudi Arabia needs to be a major player, Perry says.